UNCLASSIFIED
22
152544
DLIAN 0950
TUP COPY QD ST?
HUD 384/3
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
REC!
TELNO 1319
13 AUG 1993
OF 130209Z AUGUST 93
DESK OFFICER
INFO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR
INDEX
PA
(20
YOUR TELNO 746: LORRAIN OSMAN
1. LORRAIN OSMAN IS DUE TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON IN HONG KONG ON 17 AUGUST 1993. HE HAS BOOKED A FLIGHT FROM HONG KONG TO LONDON ON 19 AUGUST AT 2300 HOURS. WE ARE UNAWARE OF HIS INTENDED FUTURE MOVEMENTS.
2. WE DO NOT EXPECT MUCH INTEREST FROM THE PRESS HERE OTHER THAN OSMAN'S RELEASE MAY ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS ABOUT TAN AND SANIMAN. SO FAR AS TAN IS CONCERNED WE SHALL SAY THAT WE ARE PROCEEDING WITH ALL POSSIBLE SPEED AGAINST HIM IN RESPECT OF BMFL. WE HOPE TO TRANSFER THE CASE TO THE HIGH COURT IN SEPTEMBER BUT SHALL NOT REVEAL THIS. IN SO FAR AS SANIMAN IS CONCERNED WE CANNOT REVEAL THAT WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE FRENCH AND WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT LOST HOPE THAT HE WILL BE RETURNED.
3. IF WE ARE ASKED WHETHER THE PURSUIT OF OSMAN HAS BEEN WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY WE SHALL POINT OUT THAT HE PLEADED GUILTY TO A FRAUD INVOLVING A MONUMENTAL SUM OF MONEY AND THAT HE RECEIVED A LIGHT SENTENCE ONLY BECAUSE THE JUDGE GAVE HIM SUBSTANTIAL CREDIT FOR HIS LONG INCARCERATION IN PRISON IN ENGLAND.
4. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OSMAN IS TO BE INTERVIEWED BY A SENIOR REPORTER FROM THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON HIS RETURN TO ENGLAND. THIS REPORTER HAS THE REPUTATION OF ANTIPATHY TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND, NO DOUBT SHE WILL SEEK, THROUGH OSMAN, TO CRITICISE
US.
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